Monday, November 19, 2012

Sales Review: October 2012

The zero month phenomenon helped bolster sales for DC in September 2012, the one year mark for the new 52. When the sales for Supergirl #0 came out with a nice little bump, I thought for sure the book would have grabbed a couple of new readers. The zero issue was a true origin and helped establish who this Kara is.

The ending of Avengers Vs Xmen (and all its various title shoot offs) as well as the first issue of Uncanny Avengers shot Marvel to the top spots. And comic sales, in general, were healthy.

Supergirl #13 was the first solo issue for writer Mike Johnson and had a guest artist in Sami Basri. It very organically grew out of the origin issue. It seemed the perfect issue to continue the jumping on point that was Supergirl #0.

Alas, the sales seemed to revert to the pre-zero trend. Supergirl #12 sold just over 30K. Supergirl #13 sold just under 30K. It slipped 9 slots down from Supergirl #12 (and a dramatic 31 slots from the zero issue).

I don't think sales are stable on the book. I kept hoping that sales would stay above 30K. I mean, it is being outsold by Dan Didio's Judas Iscariot book. Really??

I like to take a look at some lower selling title that I read in hopes of promoting it while chewing off my nails awaiting the cancellation notice. This time I thought I would take a look at two.

Smallvillehas been an unexpected treat for me and I was glad to see that the print version is selling relatively well, breaking 19K. Since this is a digital first book, I think this must be looked upon as a big success for DC. I keep hoping to hear that the book has been 'picked up' for a Season 12.

Alas, 5 spots below is Legion of Super-Heroes, languishing a bit at 18,487. It was recently announced that Keith Giffen will join Paul Levitz on the book. That has the feel of a last ditch effort to bring publicity to the book, a sort of 'let's put the band back together for a farewell tour' idea. I just don't know why Legion can't sell!

4 comments:

I don't think sales are stable on the book. I kept hoping that sales would stay above 30K. I mean, it is being outsold by Dan Didio's Judas Iscariot book. Really??

Phantom Stranger is only on its 2nd issue so this seems understandable.Shops and retailers order based not just on theoretical demand but on factors such as publisher incentives, newness and creator power. Supergirl is one of the best books DC puts out in my reading and sampling of their output but you look around at other DC books and there's some big talent and event storylines propelling books. Supergirl and Superboy don't quite fall into those categories, I'm not surprised Superboy is as low as it is as it just isn't a great book (unlike Legion Lost), he's a really hard character to admire or relate with. Supergirl is marginally more attractive as a character but has an unfortunate perception (arguably) of being a loner and not very likable. I do wonder if it's the promotional spiel that did some damage.I think one thing that needs to happen is for this 'family' to start gelling together, there's been too much of a fractious atmosphere between them and marketing them as isolationists and alienated outsider, even from each other, has not been a smart move in my opinion. I hope this starts to change with H'el on Earth as this is one family of books and characters that needs to pull together if they are to survive and succeed as a franchise.

Those are some proboble contributing factors. But as I keep saying the blunt truth is sales here are equivalent to where the book was just after the War of the Supermen storyline around issue #50. This 30k level seems to be the best Supergirl can manage as a character. I think this is not a bad figure myself, it's just a worry if the trend keeps downwards instead of levelling at this amount...

Alas, 5 spots below is Legion of Super-Heroes, languishing a bit at 18,487. It was recently announced that Keith Giffen will join Paul Levitz on the book. That has the feel of a last ditch effort to bring publicity to the book, a sort of 'let's put the band back together for a farewell tour' idea. I just don't know why Legion can't sell!

Why the LSH is so low is no great mystery for me, I like Paul Levitz' characterisation a lot but as a plotter and ideas man he's never been wonderful. LSH is readable in the last two years but it's never been memorable.The same problem lies in World's Finest, I've enjoyed it but nothing memorable has happened. Nothing to compel the more casual reader.I was surprised and dissapointed to see it at the 35k mark as while that isn't bad it isn't 'Earth 2' levels and with the artistic talent attached it should be far higher up quite frankly.

I read the latest Johnson and Lobdell interview on CBR (Comic Book Review) November 16th. I will leave it for anyone who wants to read it decide for themselves what is coming for Kara and the Super Family.